Satchel’s Last Resort has been a quiet fixture in Sarasota since 2003, taking in the animals other shelters couldn’t place. Now the no-kill rescue is preparing for its biggest change yet: doubling its capacity from 50 animals to 90 on its 12-acre property.
The plan includes rebuilt kennels, new play yards, and walking paths on what’s currently a back field. It can’t come soon enough. The rescue keeps a long waitlist and has to turn animals away because of space limits. Muffy Lavens, director of development and community engagement, said once the new space opens, the kennel could fill in a single day. Board president Jill Creevy is helping lead the effort, and volunteer Kathy Rainey points to Rio, a foster dog who’s now on his ninth chance, as the reason this work matters.
The expansion is part of a $15 million capital campaign, supported mostly by private donations. The rescue hopes to break ground by the end of the year. If you’re looking for a way to support animals right here on the Suncoast, this is a local effort worth watching. Have you ever adopted or fostered a rescue pet? Tell us your story in the comments.
